3,417 candidates register to run parliamentary elections: HEC

CAIRO: A total of 3,417 hopeful candidates across the country have submitted applications to run in Egypt’s forthcoming parliamentary ballot, the High Elections Committee (HEC) announced Thursday.

In a Thursday press conference, HEC Spokesperson Omar Marwan called on all candidates to conduct the required medical tests and checkup before the candidacy registration period ends Sept. 12 at 12:00 p.m.

The candidacy registration for Egypt’s long-awaited parliament elections, scheduled to kick off Oct. 18, began Sept. 1 with an initial candidates’ list to be announced Sept.13.

On Tuesday, the first day of registration, 2,745 hopeful candidates had submitted the candidacy papers, Marwan announced Wednesday.

Several media outlets reported that the first two days of registration were marked by fights and jostling among candidates attempting to select most popular electoral symbols.

Egypt’s House of Representatives will comprise of 596 members, with 448 to be elected as independents, 120 through the winner-take-all party lists system, with 28 seats to be appointed by the president, HEC announced in a news conference Sunday.